KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is expected to maintain a stable GDP growth momentum of between four and 4.5 per cent this year, on the back of recovery prospects for commodity prices and the global economy in general.

The Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, when delivering the government policy speech during the state assembly opening today, said the two factors are likely to boost activities in the sectors of tourism, investment, public spending and exports, which are main drivers of the state’s economy.

“The government is also committed to intensifying efforts to reduce the poverty level from four per cent in 2014 to one per cent before the end of the 11th Malaysia Plan.

“Thus, this year, the government will continue various projects under the Rural Transformation Programme, especially the Mini Estet Sejahtera (Mesej) programmes and the Hardcore Poor Development Programme (PPRT) plantations.

“The rise of prices of main commodities, like rubber and palm oil, is expected to improve the project participants’ livelihood,” he added.